John Bolton, the man who once tried to outsmart Donald Trump, is now facing prison time for allegedly leaking national secrets.
A federal grand jury in Maryland has indicted the former National Security Advisor for mishandling classified information, accusing him of using his old AOL email to send sensitive files.
The FBI raided Bolton’s Washington office and Maryland home months ago. Agents found documents marked “confidential,” two phones, and folders labeled “Trump I to IV.” They also found a binder titled “Statements and Reflections to Allied Strikes.”
When the news broke, Trump was in the Oval Office. Reporters told him mid-conversation, and his face reportedly lit up like someone had just told him Christmas came early.
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“I didn’t know that, you’re telling me for the first time, but I think he’s a bad person,” Trump said. “I think he’s a bad guy, yeah, he’s a bad guy. Too bad, but that’s the way it goes.”
That’s about as close as you’ll get to Trump saying “serves him right.”
Bolton and Trump’s relationship has always been a slow burn that ended badly. Trump hired him as National Security Advisor, then later fired him and called him “a low life.” Bolton hit back with a book calling Trump “stunningly uninformed.”
Court filings show the FBI was searching for violations of the Espionage Act, a law that punishes the mishandling of defense information. The same records say a “foreign entity” hacked Bolton’s email, though the identity of the hackers remains secret.
Trump was quick to remind everyone that Bolton was never his favorite. “I saw it on television this morning,” he said, smiling to reporters. “I’m not a fan of John Bolton. He’s a real, sort of a low life.”
And for those keeping score, Trump’s critics keep landing in legal trouble. In recent months, both James Comey and Letitia James have been charged in separate federal cases after Trump was accused of urging his attorney general to “go after” them.
Before joining Trump’s team, Bolton was already known for his tough foreign policy views. He served under Presidents Reagan, Bush Sr., and George W. Bush, and played a key role in shaping the Iraq invasion. He defended it for years, calling it “the right decision.”
Many in Washington saw him as a man who enjoyed confrontation more than compromise, and that reputation followed him everywhere.
Featured image via YouTube screengrab
